Central & South America in Queens, NYC

lizzard_nyc

When I was asked what I wanted to do for Mother's Day, I did not hesitate-"I want to go to Roosevelt Avenue and eat from the street carts and take photos".

The three blocks I walked has a high Central and South American influence as well as a high concentration of gay, lesbian and transvestite/transgender community. It's only two neighborhoods away from me, but I feel as though I'm in another world.

FYI--if anyone has seen the movie "Maria Full of Grace" Roosevelt Avenue is prominently shown--it has everything from immigration lawyers, to unbeleivable food, barbershops, tattoo parlors, international calling centers, knock offs, transvestite shows and prostitution--you name it-if you want it, it's there.

1.



2.



3.



4.



5.

bfjr

Well besides making me hungry, I like the set

#3 stands out for me as well as the last, lots o hustle bustle in that one.

lizzard_nyc

bfjr wrote: »

Well besides making me hungry, I like the set

#3 stands out for me as well as the last, lots o hustle bustle in that one.

Thanks Benjamin,

I like #3 also, even with the lady on the left with her eyes closed, it was a toss up between that one and the "urban vaquero" shot, the first one.

The last I included so you guys could get a feel for how crowded the place is--glad you liked them.

and yes I got the best tamales in the world from one of the street vendors.

bdcolen

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

When I was asked what I wanted to do for Mother's Day, I did not hesitate-"I want to go to Roosevelt Avenue and eat from the street carts and take photos".

The three blocks I walked has a high Central and South American influence as well as a high concentration of gay, lesbian and transvestite/transgender community. It's only two neighborhoods away from me, but I feel as though I'm in another world.

FYI--if anyone has seen the movie "Maria Full of Grace" Roosevelt Avenue is prominently shown--it has everything from immigration lawyers, to unbeleivable food, barbershops, tattoo parlors, international calling centers, knock offs, transvestite shows and prostitution--you name it-if you want it, it's there.

1.
[IMG][/img]

Love the first and third, Liz. Boy, Queens has changed.

lizzard_nyc

bdcolen wrote: »

Love the first and third, Liz. Boy, Queens has changed.

Thanks B.D.
It changes more everyday, it really is diverse--this was just a two block radius. A few more blocks down and it's Little India and a few more blocks more @ Broadway it's little Korea. But the sheer amount of street food vendors cooking in the metal grocery carts was new to me. Not complaining--it was tasty.

I told my husband I wanted to come back at night and get the night action shots--and he kind of talked me out of it--somethings maybe shouldn't be documented.

michswiss

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

I told my husband I wanted to come back at night and get the night action shots--and he kind of talked me out of it--somethings maybe shouldn't be documented.

I say go for it. Stay discreet and safe, maybe with your hubby in the vicinity? Shooting street at night is fun. Real slice of life stuff. There's a different sense of community and movement than you can't get during the day. A different buzz. At least in my area.

Of the shots, #3 is my fav from the set.

rainbow

Sounds like a wonderful Mothers' Day. Nice set of shots, too. Might consider a tighter or square crop on some (2 & 3?).

Go for the night shots. Just bring your biggest, meanest homies with you so no one thinks about messing with you. Now you can shoot the look of fear and awe in their faces...

lizzard_nyc

michswiss wrote: »

I say go for it. Stay discreet and safe, maybe with your hubby in the vicinity? Shooting street at night is fun. Real slice of life stuff. There's a different sense of community and movement than you can't get during the day. A different buzz. At least in my area.

Of the shots, #3 is my fav from the set.

Hi Jenn,
I haven't shot at night yet--my best lens is 25mm f2.8 and I struggle with night shots.
Also, the neighborhood---I love it in the daytime, but at night it's a different world. It can be seedy, late night drinking, drugs, prostitution--I wouldnt' want to take a photo of the wrong person and then disappear.
Also most people don't have a problem with me taking photos, but at night once people are out drinking, things change, also the major part of that neighborhood are here illegally and might get defensive about having their photos taken--can't say I blame them if they get defensive--especialy these days.
As far as my husband being in the vicinity--he's already said I'm crazy to even think about it. I get it, the excitement gets the best of me--I know it would make for some great shots (I was picturing "Roosevelt Avenue--the underbelly" and then the following headlines "Amateur photographer and wannabe photojournalist shoots Roosevelt Avenue at night and wakes up with a Colombian bowtie".
Will have to practice my nighttime street shooting elsewhere.

lizzard_nyc

rainbow wrote: »

Sounds like a wonderful Mothers' Day. Nice set of shots, too. Might consider a tighter or square crop on some (2 & 3?).

Go for the night shots. Just bring your biggest, meanest homies with you so no one thinks about messing with you. Now you can shoot the look of fear and awe in their faces...

It was a wonderful mother's day--good eats and my camera and my family--what else is there?

"homies" she says--would you believe me if I told you I don't have any, though I knew a home-slice in the 80's.
I would also think this would definately attract unwanted attention--I think I blend in more with my husband, my little girl in her stroller and my son, course that wouldn't work late at night.

I appreciate the encouragement to shoot this--and maybe some day I will, but for now--I'm sticking to daytime .

michswiss

Understood. But practice is a good idea. There must be somewhere with exposed bulbs, harsh interior light spilling out onto the walkways, shadows, dark abysses that's also Mom-friendly.